Device for collecting cord

ABSTRACT

A device for collecting a cord, includes a housing, in which a cord reel, a driving member, and a control member are received. The housing has a hole for the cord entering the housing and being fastened to the cord reel. The driving member is connected to the cord reel to drive the cord reel to rotate reversely after the cord reel rotates in a direction. 
     The control member has a portion in an opening of the housing to be operated to engage and disengage the control member with the cord reel; the cord reel is free to rotate when the control member is disengaged with the cord reel, and the cord is hold when the control member is engaged with the cord reel.

The current application claims a foreign priority to the patent application of China No. 201420088288.8 filed on Feb. 28, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a window covering, and more particularly to a device for collecting a cord of a window covering.

2. Description of Related Art

Typically, a window covering is provided with slats or a blanket to shade sunlight. The conventional window covering is provided with a control cord for manipulating to lift and lower the slats or the blanket.

However, after a long time of operation, the control cord would be damaged or jammed to make the window covering unable to be operated.

Besides, for a large window covering, the control cord is very long that it may trip or strangle people.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a device for collecting a cord, which can adjust the length of the cord to prevent the cord from twisting of causing accidents.

The present invention provides a device for collect a cord, including a housing, in which a cord reel, a driving member, and a control member are received. The housing has a hole for the cord entering the housing and being fastened to the cord reel. The driving member is connected to the cord reel to drive the cord reel to rotate reversely after the cord reel rotates in a direction. The control member has a portion in an opening of the housing to be operated to engage and disengage the control member with the cord reel; the cord reel is free to rotate when the control member is disengaged with the cord reel, and the cord is hold when the control member is engaged with the cord reel.

In an embodiment, the cord reel has a first locking portion; the control member has a pressing portion and a second locking portion; the pressing portion is operated to engage and disengage the second locking portion with the first locking portion.

In an embodiment, the pressing member is in the opening of the housing.

In an embodiment, the device further includes a holding member received in the opening of the housing for reciprocation, wherein the holding member is moved toward the pressing portion of the control member and engages the pressing portion to hold the control member in a condition which the second locking portion disengages the first locking portion.

In an embodiment, the first locking portion includes a plurality of teeth arranged in a circular pattern on the cord reel; the pressing portion and the second locking portion are located at opposite sides of the control member; and the second locking portion has at least a tooth to engage the teeth of the first locking portion.

In an embodiment, the first locking portion includes a plurality of recesses arranged in a circular pattern on the cord reel; the pressing portion and the second locking portion are located at opposite sides of the control member; and the second locking portion has at least a protrusion to be received in any one of the recesses of the first locking portion.

In an embodiment, the housing is provided with an axle mount; the control member has an axle pivoted on the axle mount to let the control member work like a lever; whereby the second locking portion disengage the first locking portion when the pressing member is pressed.

In an embodiment, the device further includes an elastic member urging the control member to make the second locking portion normally engage the first locking portion.

In an embodiment, the elastic member has a main plate and at least an arm connected to the main plate; the main plate is connected to the control member, and the arm abuts against the housing.

In an embodiment, the housing has a positioning pin; and the cord reel has a position hole to fit the positioning pin.

In an embodiment, the positioning pin is provided with a fixing block to rest against an end surface of the cord reel when the positioning pin is inserted into the position hole of the cord reel.

In an embodiment, the positioning pin is provided with a gap to make the positioning pin compressible, whereby the fixing block is able to pass through the position hole of the cord reel.

In an embodiment, the opening of the housing is closer to the hole and away from a center of the housing.

With the design of above, the user may adjust the length of the cord to prevent the cord from twisting of causing accidents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the fixing block against the cord reel;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the first locking portion engaging the second locking portion;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the first locking portion disengaging the second locking portion;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is another exploded view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is another exploded view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a device for collecting a control cord 100 of a window covering, wherein the control cord 100 is operated to lift and lower slats or a blanket (not shown) of the window covering. The device includes a housing 10, a driving member 20, a cord reel 30, a control member 40, and an elastic member 50.

The housing 10 has a first case 12 and a second case 14, wherein the first case 12 has an opening 121 and a recess 122, and the opening 121 is preferably not at a center of the first case 12, precisely, the opening 121 is closer to the recess 122 and away from a center of the first case 12. The first case is provided with an axle mount 123 on an inner side thereof, and the axle mount 123 is adjacent to the opening 121.

The second case 14 has a recess 141, and is provided with a positioning pin 142 at an inner side, and the positioning pin 142 is adjacent to a center of the second case 14. Two fixing blocks 143 are back to back provided on the distal end of the positioning pin 142, and the fixing blocks 143 are gradually thinner from an end close to a root of the positioning pin 142 to an end close to a distal end of the positioning pin 142. The positioning pin 142 further has a gap 144 extends inwards from the distal end, and the fixing blocks 143 are at opposite sides of the gap 144.

The driving member 20 is a mainspring in the first preferred embodiment, and the mainspring is mounted on the cord reel 30. The control cord 100 is connected to the cord reel 30 to be wound therearound. The cord reel 30 has a positioning hole 32, and the positioning pin 142 is inserted into the positioning hole 32. When the positioning pin 142 is being inserted into the positioning hole 32, the fixing blocks 143 are pressed inwards until the fixing blocks 143 are through and out of the positioning hole 32. As a result, the fixing blocks 143 lock the cord reel 30 on the positioning pin 142, but can allow the cord reel 30 rotate freely on the positioning pin 142. The cord reel 30 is provided with a room, in which the mainspring 20 is received. The positioning hole 32 passes through a center of the room of the cord reel 30, and opposite ends of the mainspring 20 fit the gap 144 of the positioning pin 142 and a slot on a sidewall of the room of the cord reel 30. Therefore, the mainspring 20 will return the cord reel 30 after the cord reel 30 rotates. The cord reel 30 has a first locking portion 34, which has a plurality of separated teeth arranged in a circular pattern on an end surface of the cord reel 30.

The control member 40 has a pressing portion 42, a second locking portion 44, and an axle 46. The pressing portion 42 and the second locking portion 44 are located at opposite sides of the axle 46. The axle 46 is pivoted on the axle mount 123 of the first case 12 so that the control member 40 works like a lever with the axle 46 as a fulcrum. The pressing portion 42 is received in the opening 121 of the first case 12, and the second locking portion 44 is inside the first case 12. The second locking portion 44 has a pin 441.

In the present embodiment, the second locking portion 44 has several teeth to engage the teeth of the first locking portion 34 of the cord reel 30. The first and the second locking portions are a pair of devices to hold the cord reel 30, any device having the same function could be used in the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the elastic member 50 is a flexible plate, which has a main plate 52 and two arms 54 at opposite sides of the main plate 52. The main plate 52 is provided with a bore 521 to fit the pin 441, therefore the elastic member 50 is connected to the control member 40 and between the control member 40 and the first case 12.

The first and the second cases 12, 14 are connected together to form a room therein and a hole, which is formed by the recesses 122, 141. The cord 100 enters the room via the hole, and is fastened to the cord reel 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, the arms 54 urge the first case 12 to force the second locking portion 44 of the control member 40 toward the cord reel 30 which makes the second locking member 44 normally engage the first locking portion 34 to restrict the cord reel 30 from rotating. The elastic member 50 may use spring, rubber, steel plate, and plastic which are flexible to serve the same function. The elastic member 50 may be directly projected from the control member 40 or from the first case 12, they serve the same function as well.

As shown in FIG. 5, when a user presses the pressing portion 42 of the control member 40, it will move the second locking portion 44 to disengage the first locking portion 34 of the cord reel 30. At this time, the cord reel 30 is free to rotate, and the control cord 100 may be drawn in or out of the housing 10. In the present embodiment, when the user presses the pressing portion 42 and draws the housing 10 downwards (in a direction away from a top of the window covering), the control cord 100 will be drawn out of the housing 10, and meanwhile the mainspring 20 is twisted. When there is enough control cord 100 being drawn out, a user only needs to release the pressing portion 42, the elastic member 50 will return the control member 40 to engage the second locking portion 44 with the first locking portion 34 again, and the cord reel 30 is unable to rotate anymore, and the control cord 100 is unable to be drawn out or in. While the user presses the pressing portion 42 again and moves the housing 10 upwards, the mainspring 20 will drive the cord reel 30 rotating reversely to draw the control cord 100 into the housing 100 and wound around the cord reel 30 until the user releases the pressing portion 42. In an embodiment, the direction of twisting the mainspring 20 can be opposite to the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, both the first and the second locking portions 34, 44 are teeth, like a pair of meshed gears to hold the cord reel 30 immediately when the user releases the pressing portion 42.

The position of the pressing portion 42 is nearby the thumb when the user holds the housing 10 that the user may operate the device of the present invention in an easy way.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show a device for collecting a cord of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that a first locking portion 64 has a plurality of recesses on a cord reel 60, and the recesses are arranged in a circular pattern, and a second locking portion 66 has several protrusions on the control member. The protrusions of the second locking portion 66 are complementary to the recesses of the first locking portion 64 that the cord reel 60 will be hold by an engagement of protrusions of the second locking portion 66 and the recesses of the first locking portion 64.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a device for collecting a cord of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to above preferred embodiments, except that a holding member 76 is provided on a housing 78. The holding member 76 has a portion exposed via an opening 781 of the housing 78, and is able to reciprocate along the opening 781. The same as above, the control member 70 has a pressing portion 72 and a second locking portion 74 at opposite sides, the pressing portion 72 is received in the opening 781 and has a tapered end. The tapered end of the pressing portion 72 faces a slot of the holding member 76. When the user moves the holding member 76 toward the pressing portion 72 the tapered end will enter the slot of the holding member 76 that forces the pressing portion 72 moving downwards to disengage the first and the second locking portions as described above. Due to the spring force of the elastic member, the holding member 76 will be hold right there after the user moves the holding member 76 toward the pressing portion 72. As a result, the user does not need to use excessive force to press the pressing portion 72 because the holding member 76 holds the pressing portion 72 in position, and the cord reel is free to rotate until the user moves back the holding member 76.

FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 show a device for collecting a cord of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to above preferred embodiments, except that a first locking portion 821 has a plurality of recesses on a cord reel 82 at a side facing the second case 94, and a control member 84 includes a pressing portion 841 and a second locking portion 842. The pressing portion 841 has a head and a tubular pin 843 connected to the head. The pin 843 is inserted into the housing 90 via an opening on a first case, and the head is left out of the housing 90. The pin 843 passes through a positioning pin and a positioning hole 822 of the cord reel 82 to touch the second locking portion 842. The second locking portion 842 is a disk-like member having a post at a center and a plurality of protrusions surrounding the post. The post is inserted into the hollow pin 843, and the protrusions face the recesses on the cord reel 82. An elastic member 96, which is a spring in the present embodiment, is received in a hole of the post of the second locking portion 842 via a back side thereof to urge the second locking portion 842 toward the cord reel 82, and make the protrusions normally engage the recesses. The elastic member 96 urges the pressing portion 841 as well to let the head keep a distance from the housing 90. When a user presses the head of the pressing portion 841, it will move the second locking portion 842 away from the cord reel 82 to disengage protrusions with the recesses and free the cord reel 82. The same as above, when the user releases the pressing portion 841, the elastic member 96 back to engage protrusions with the recesses again and hold the cord reel 82.

With the designs of above, the device of the present invention may reel in the control cord 100 to avoid accident such as child be strangled by the control cord, and the control cord 100 will be isolated when it is received in the housing to prevent it from being damaged by sun or wind, and furthermore, it may prevent the control cord from twisting. The design of the first and the second locking portions in circular patterns may hold the cord reel immediately while the user releases the pressing portion. It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for collecting a cord, comprising: a housing having a room therein, an opening, and a hole, wherein both the opening and the hole are communicated with the room, and a cord enters the room via the hole; a cord reel rotatably received in the room of the housing, wherein the cord has an end fastened to the cord reel to be wound around the cord reel; a driving member received in the room of the housing for driving the cord reel to rotate reversely while the cord reel is rotated in a direction; and a control member received in the room of the housing, wherein the control member has a portion in the opening of the housing to be operated to engage and disengage the control member with the cord reel; the cord reel is free to rotate when the control member is disengaged with the cord reel, and the cord is hold when the control member is engaged with the cord reel.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cord reel has a first locking portion; the control member has a pressing portion and a second locking portion; the pressing portion is operated to engage and disengage the second locking portion with the first locking portion.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the pressing member is in the opening of the housing.
 4. The device of claim 2, further comprising a holding member received in the opening of the housing for reciprocation, wherein the holding member is moved toward the pressing portion of the control member and engages the pressing portion to hold the control member in a condition which the second locking portion disengages the first locking portion.
 5. The device of claim 2, wherein the first locking portion includes a plurality of teeth arranged in a circular pattern on the cord reel; the pressing portion and the second locking portion are located at opposite ends of the control member; and the second locking portion has at least a tooth to engage the teeth of the first locking portion.
 6. The device of claim 2, wherein the first locking portion includes a plurality of recesses arranged in a circular pattern on the cord reel; the pressing portion and the second locking portion are located at opposite ends of the control member; and the second locking portion has at least a protrusion to be received in any one of the recesses of the first locking portion.
 7. The device of claim 2, wherein the housing is provided with an axle mount; the control member has an axle pivoted on the axle mount to let the control member work like a lever; whereby the second locking portion disengage the first locking portion when the pressing member is pressed.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising an elastic member urging the control member to make the second locking portion normally engage the first locking portion.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the elastic member has a main plate and at least an arm connected to the main plate; the main plate is connected to the control member, and the arm abuts against the housing.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a positioning pin; and the cord reel has a position hole to fit the positioning pin.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the positioning pin is provided with a fixing block to rest against an end surface of the cord reel when the positioning pin is inserted into the position hole of the cord reel.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the positioning pin is provided with a gap to make the positioning pin compressible, whereby the fixing block is able to pass through the position hole of the cord reel.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the opening of the housing is closer to the hole and away from a center of the housing. 